Huffman facing 10 months’ jail over college scam

Huffman facing 10 months’ jail over college scam

American prosecutors are planning to call for a prison sentence of four to 10 months for ‘Desperate Housewives’ star Felicity Huffman for her role in the college admissions scandal.

The claim was made by a police source with knowledge of the investigation.

The actress was among 13 parents who agreed to plead guilty last week to a charge of conspiracy to commit fraud.

A total of 33 parents, including Huffman, have been accused of using their wealth to cheat on standardised tests for their children and bribe college administrators and coaches who had clout when it came to admissions.

A plea agreement indicated prosecutors will recommend incarceration at the “low end” of the sentencing range, a $20,000 (€17,700) fine and 12 months of supervised release.

Prosecutors had originally recommended sentences for Huffman and those pleading guilty from 12 to 18 months.

In addition to lower sentencing, prosecutors will not bring further charges, the plea agreement said.

However, it is a federal judge who will have the final say on Huffman’s sentence. She is due back in court on May 21 for a sentencing hearing.

The federal sentencing guidelines are advisory, and judges may impose sentences that are either heavier or lighter than the advised range.

According to the charges, Huffman paid $15,000 (€13,270) to William Singer, a consultant at the centre of the case, so a proctor would correct some of her daughter’s answers on the test after she had finished the test and left.